Uncoupling mechanism for car couplers



Jan. 26, 1932. R. J. WlTTMER UNCOUPLING mscmmsm FOR cm COUPLERS Filed Aug. 1, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Russell 11' .W'iflmcr Jan. 26, 1932. R. J. WITTMER 1,842,574

UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR CAR COUPLEHS INVENTQR 1? assell JT Mi'iimer AT ORNEY Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RU$SELL JAY WITTMER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL MALLEABLE AND STEEL CASTING-S COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR CAR COUPLERS Application filed August 1, 1925. Serial No. 47,522.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an uncoupling mechanism embodying my invention, showing the horn of the coupler in section; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved connection between the actuating mechanism and the litter; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the connection; Fig. i is an elevation of the connection before its application to the lifter; Fig. is a front elevation of a modified form of I my invention; and Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, front and side elevations of one of the parts of the connection shown 111 Fig. 5.

My invention relates to uncoupling mechanisms for car couplers and provides a flexible connection between the lock lift and the actuating means which obviates the difliculties inherent in extending the lift upwardly to engage the actuating means directly and at the same time preserves the benefit of a direct upward lift. My invention also permits an ordinary operating rod to be used with the standard D-coupler and renders the dismantling of the coupler easy. My invention further comprises various iieatures which I shall hereinat'ter describe and claim.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my invention applied to a standard D-coupler in which the coupler head A is equipped with the usual litter B. The upper end 2 of the litter B has the usual transversely disposed eye 3, into the sides of which extend the bosses 4iot the apertured prongs 5 of the con nection 6. Between the prongs 5 and above the bosses at are corresponding recesses 7 which provide room for the upper end 2 of the litter B. Through the upper portion of the connection 6 is a longitudinally extending opening 8 for the operating rod 9.

The connection 6 may be made in a single piece and may be applied to the lifter by spreading its prongs 5, as is shown in Fig. i, so that they will pass over the sides of the litter B about the eye 3. The prongs 5 are then pressed toward each other, thus forcing the bosses 4 for a short distance into the eye The prongs 5 may be secured together by a rivet 10 with countersunk heads. To permit the ready bending of the prongs 5 the connection 6 is slotted at 11.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have shown a modified form of my invention in which the connection is made in two identically formed, complementary parts 16. Each part comprises one half of the connection, which is split in a vertical plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the coupler. Each part also has a groove 17 which with the complementary groove 17 on the other half provides a channel within which the upper extremity 12 of te litter B fits.

Each part 16 has at its lower extremity a small downward projection 22, which when the two parts are assembled contacts with a side of the litter just below the eye 13. Each part is also provided with a perforated lug 23 and with a dowel 24 so disposedthat the dowel 24 of one part may enter the lug 23 of the other part and be riveted thereto so as to hold the parts together on application to the eye 13 of the lifter. It will be seen that the parts are applied to the litter with a. sort of scissors action, as the projections 22 are first threaded through the eye 13 and the apertures 18 in the respective halves are then brought into registry. The parts may be so designed that this will cause the two parts to fit tightly upon the lifter so that when the dowels are riveted over on the projections the parts will be rigidly secured together.

The connection is preferably of wedge shape in cross-section, as is shown in Fig. 3, being of the same general shape as the hole in the horn of the coupler through which the litter projects. Thus, when it becomes necessary to dismantle a coupler, the lifter with the connection attached thereto can be dropped down far enough to detach the litter from the lock. In so doing the bottom end. of the connection will just enter the top hole of the coupler and in such position all of the operating parts of the coupler may be removed (except the litter itself) without having to remove the connection.

Couplers equipped with my improved connection may be readily shipped without in jury to the connection, as it may be turned down out of: the way, at right angles to the axis of the lifter.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, but recognize that various structural modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, a lock lifter having an eye in the upper end thereof; actuating means; and a connection between the lifter and the actuating means, said connection having a pair of downwardly extending members, each of said downwardly extending members having an inwardly extending projection forming a bearing in said eye; and means for securing said members bearing in said eye, the said connection havin an aperture extending at right angles therethrough and affording a bearing for the actuating means, the downwardly extending members of said connection engaging simultaneously opposite sides of said lifter to thereby restrict pivotal movement of the connection with respect to the lifter to the central vertical longitudinal plane of the lifter.

2. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, a lock lifter having an eye in the upper end thereof; actuating means; and a connection between the lifter and the actuating means, said connection having a pair of downwardly extending members each having a bearing in said eye; and means for securing said bearings in said eye, the said connection having an aperture extending at right angles therethrough and afiording a bearing for the actuating means, the connection having also a reduced shank to permit its lower end to enter the top opening of the coupler and to be turned therein.

3. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, a lock lifter having an eye in the upper cnd thereof; actuating means; and a connection between the lifter and the actuating means, said connection having a pair of downwardly extending members each having a bearing portion seating in said eye; and means for securing the bearings in said eye passing through the downwardly extending members and said eye, said bearing portions being arranged to fit substantially the eye of said lifter, thereby normally precluding relative movement laterally of the coupler between the lifter and said connection, the said connection having an aperture extending at right angles therethrough and affording a bearing for the actuating means.

l. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, a lock lifter having a circular eye in the upper end thereof, an uncoupling rod, a connection having an integral annular hearing extending laterally into the lifter eye and engaging the uncoupling rod, said connection being capable of assuming an operable service position, the ends of the connection being rigid with respect to each other and said connection including downwardly extending members simultaneously engaging opposite sides of said lifter to thereby restrict pivotal movement of the connection with respect to the lifter to the central vertical longitudinal plane of the lifter.

5. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, a, lock lifter having an eye in the upper end thereof; actuating means; and a connection between the lifter and the actuating means, said connection having a pair of downwa 'dly extending members each having a bearing in said eye; and means for securing said bearings in said eye, the said connection having an aperture extending at right angles therethrough and affording a bearing for the actuating means, pivotal movement of the connection with respect to the lifter being restricted to the central vertical longi tudinal plane of the lifter.

6. In uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, a lock lifter having a circular eye in the upper end thereof; an uncoupling rod, a connection engaging the uncoupling rod and having an integral annular bearing extending laterally into the lifter eye, said connection being capable of assuming an operable service position, the ends of the connection being rigid with respect to each other, and'the bearing of the connection upon the lifter being arranged to prevent lateral movement of the connection with respect to the lifter. I o I 7. Inuncoupling mechanism for a car coupler having a top opening, a lock lifter adapted to project through said opening, actuating means, a connection between said lifter and said actuating means, said connection being wholly exterior to the coupler when the coupler is in'service, a part of said connection being tapered to permit the connection to be lowered into the head of the coupler preparatory to dismantling of the latter.

RUSSELL JAY WITTMER. 

